Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court has sentenced five suspects involved in the notorious Offa bank robbery to death by hanging, marking the end of a six-year legal battle.
The convicts, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salahudeen Azeez, and Niyi Ogundiran, were found guilty of illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery, and the murder of over 30 people, including policemen, during the April 2018 attack.
The case, which captured national attention, centered around the violent heist that saw a group of robbers storming five banks in Offa, a quiet town in Kwara State, leaving a trail of death and destruction.
The gang carted away an undisclosed amount of cash, while their deadly assault claimed the lives of dozens. The robbery, one of the most brutal in recent Nigerian history, shocked the nation and led to a massive manhunt.
Delivering a judgement that lasted over three hours, Justice Salman ruled that the evidence presented by the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the suspects were guilty.
The judge stated that the crimes of armed robbery and culpable homicide, for which they were convicted, are punishable by death under Nigerian law.
Though the court also found the convicts guilty of illegal possession of firearms, they were handed a lighter sentence of three years imprisonment for that particular charge. One suspect, Michael Adikwu, died in custody during the trial.
Following the verdict, the prosecution team expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that delays in the trial were caused by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and national duties assigned to the judge. The defence team, however, indicated their intention to appeal the judgement, asserting that justice was not fully served.
The sentencing marks a significant moment for the families of the victims and the entire Offa community, which has waited six long years for closure. In the immediate aftermath of the robbery, former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed had placed a N5 million bounty on the suspects, encouraging members of the public to assist in their capture.
The robbery, which turned the quiet town of Offa into a national talking point, remains one of the darkest chapters in the state’s recent history, with the court’s decision bringing some resolution to the lingering trauma.
Despite the finality of the verdict, the defence’s appeal means the legal process may continue, but for now, justice has been served for the lives lost in the 2018 massacre.